Football blocking sled



Feb. 4, LEACH FOOTBALL BLOCKING SLED Filed June 6, 1966 m w/ TH Nc mm W4 W A Z s M Y,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,425,692 FOOTBALL BLOCKING SLED James A. Leach, 4212C, Douglass, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80840 Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,528 US. Cl. 27355 Int. Cl. A6311 69/34 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a novel and improved football training device, and more particularly relates to a football blocking sled which is designed to most effectively and rapidly develop the skill of the blocker in making initial contact and maintaining the proper body alignment in executing certain blocking assignments.

The present invention is best described and exemplified by reference to its use in teaching and practicing the socalled blowout block. In the blow-out block, the objective is for the offensive lineman to make contact by driving his head into the lower abdominal or upper thigh region of the opponent; upon making initial contact, the head is arched or raised to apply upward pressure, and simultaneously the hands are placed on the ground with the legs continuously driving forward to force the opponent back in the desired direction. In executing the block, it is important that the blocker keep his body low, especially the lower back and buttocks, so as not to reduce his driving force or momentum in completing the block. It is therefore desirable to provide a blocking sled device which will encourage and train the blocker to make initial contact with his head and to drive the head upwardly while maintaining the body in a low position, especially the lower back and buttocks, and to accomplish the same in a safe, reliable and effective manner with a minimum of coaching assistance or instruction.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved blocking apparatus which is highly effective and useful in training football players to block properly and is specifically designed for use in teaching offensive linemen to execute the blowout block as herein defined.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a football blocking sled for practicing individual or synchronized blocking drills and which in use will permit the blocker to make initial contact at full force with his head without danger of injury and further will prevent the blocker from raising his lower body in completing the block; furthermore, to provide a football blocking sled which is rugged and durable, simplified and economical in construction and use, and which serves as a highly effective means of training with a minimum of instruction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a football blocking device including an impact member simulating the lower body and legs of an opposing player together with restraining means to encourage the ice blocker in striking the impact member to remain in a low, substantially horizontal position in making and completing the block.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily understood and appreciated from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred form of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a football blocking sled in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation in more detail of one of the blocking sections shown in the sled device in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the blocking section shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed, somewhat prospective view of the head striking plate forming a part of the preferred form of the present invention.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown a preferred form of blocking sled 10 broadly comprised of a pair of blocking sections 11 and 12 mounted in sideby-side relation on a common base frame 14. The base frame 14 has a plurality of skids or base members 16 arranged in spaced parallel relation with lower front and rear cross frames 17 and 18, respectively, and an upper cross frame 20. Diagonal braces 22 are suitably arranged for extension between the lower cross frames as well as between the rear cross frames 18 and upper cross frames 20.

Each blocking section 11 and 12 is mounted in upstanding relation between a pair of inner and outer upright frame members 23 and 24, the latter extending vertically between the front lower cross frame 17 and the upper cross frame 20. Each blocking section has a heavy-duty, rectangular plate member 26 in which the lower intermediate portion 28 is bent upwardly and forwardly from the vertical plane of the plate to leave an open vertical slot or passage 29 extending from the lower edge through the greater length of the plate, thus forming spaced-apart side portions 30. It will be seen that the intermediate portion 28 is bent upwardly so as to project forwardly in a horizontal direction from the upper end of the slot and terminates in an upwardly curved end 32. The undersurface of the intermediate portion is provided with padding 33, and similarly the front surfaces of the side portions 30 are padded as designated at 34. Hereafter, the vertical plate member 26 will be referred to as the vertical impact member and the intermediate, horizontal portion 28 referred to as the horizontal restraining mem ber with the side portions 30 defining legs having a helmet-receiving passage 29 therebetween. In this relation, the blocking section and specifically the vertical impact member simulates the lower body and legs of an opposing player, and the horizontal restraining member will encourage the blocker to remain low for engagement with the impact member.

A head butting plate 36 is supported on the back surface of the member 26 for downward extension across the upper end of the passage 29 between the legs 30, and the plate is suitably padded as indicated at 37. Here the plate member 36 is dimensioned to traverse the width of the passage 29 and to project laterally beyond one side of the impact member, as illustrated at 36, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Preferably the plate member 36 is provided with an upper hinge portion 38 curving upwardly and forwardly from the upper edge of the plate for connection between a pair of complementary hinge members 39 welded in spaced relation to the back surface of the impact member 26. A horizontal hinge pin 40 is inserted through the hinge members 38 and 39 to permit rearward and upward swinging movement of the butting plate 36 independently of the impact member 26. A coiled spring 42 is placed on the hinge pin 40 with opposite terminal ends of the spring engaging the back surface of the restraining member 30 and upper edge of the hinge 38 in order to yieldingly resist rearward swinging movement of the plate.

Each blocking section as described is mounted in spaced relation in front of the uprights 23 and 24 and is suspended for pivotal or swinging movement about upper, horizontally spaced, generally V-shaped hanger brackets 50, each having upper and lower diagonal arms 51 and 52 diverging rearwardly from a common pivotal end 53 for connection by suitable means, such as, bolts 54 to one of the uprights 23 or 24. Each pivotal end 53 is recessed to receive an upwardly extending arm 55, the latter being welded to the upper edge of the vertical impact member 26 and having an upper terminal end aligned with openings in the pivotal end to' receive a pivot pin 56. In order to yieldingly resist rearward swinging movement of the impact member 26, a coiled spring 58 is arranged for horizontal extension from the upper cross frame 20 to a connecting plate 60 projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the restraining member 26. Additionally, pivot links 61 and 62 are pivotally connected between each leg member 30 and each one of the uprights 23 and 24, and an adjustable limit stop connection 63 between the links permits relative pivotal movement of the links under rearward swinging of the member 26 while limiting return movement to the normal vertical rest position as shown in FIGURE 3. It will be further noted that the impact member 26 can be vertically adjusted with respect to the ground by providing a series of bolt holes 54' in vertical spaced relation along the uprights 23 and 24 to permit vertical adjustment of the hanger arms 51 and 52.

In practice, the object is for the blocker to come in low and to make initial contact with his head striking the head butting plate 36. Of course the horizontal restraining member 28 will encourage the blocker to remain low in approaching the blocking section and aiming at the target presented by the head butting plate. Furthermore, to complete the block, the objective is for the blocker to place his hands on the ground and to continue driving forwardly, and to arch his head upwardly whereby to pivot the head butting plate rearwardly with respect to the impact member 26 while at the same time driving his shoulders into the legs 30 so as to pivot the entire impact member rearwardly and upwardly. The effect of this will be to rock or swing the horizontal restraining member downwardly against the lower back and buttocks to urge the blocker to remain in a low, horizontal position.

Players may practice individually on one of the blocking sections, or synchronized team blocking drills can be carried out using two or more blocking sections in side-by-side relation. 'In the preferred form, a pair of blocking sections are illustrated so that two blockers may Work together, for example, to improve their timing or to afford a better indication of relative ability and skill in blocking. In this relation, the disposition and arrangement of the blocking sections in spaced relation forwardly of the frame will permit the coach to better view each player. The horizontal continuations 36' of the head butting plates 36 are provided merely as a safety feature to prevent accidential contact with the rigid frame members, for example, should the blocker engage the impact member from a side angle.

From the foregoing, the present invention provides for a novel combination and arrangement of elements including a vertically disposed, yieldable impact member 26 formed with spaced apart legs 30 to simulate the legs of an opposing player and a head striking plate 36 located in the helmet-receiving passage 29 rearwardly of and between the legs. The head striking plate 36 is mounted for independent pivotal movement so as to permit arching or raising of the head when engagement is made with the plate and the horizontal restraining member will work in unison with the vertical impact member to encourage the player to keep his lower back as low as possible in completing the block. As stated, the vertical impact member together with the horizontal restraining member is adjustably connected to the base frame to permit variations in height according to the size of the player.

While there has been described a preferred form of the present invention, it is to be understood that vari ous modifications and changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A football blacking sled comprising in combination a support, vertically disposed, yieldable impact means being normally disposed in front of said support for limited swinging movement in a rearward and upward direction upon engagement by a charging football player, and horizontal restraining means extending forwardly from the upper end of said yieldable impact means and so sized and disposed relative to said yieldable impact means as to prevent the player from raising his body upon engagement with said yieldable impact means, said horizontal restraining means being movable downwardly in response to rearward and upward swinging movement of said yieldable impact means.

2. A football blocking sled comprising in combination a support, a yieldable impact member being normally disposed in upright relation in front of said support for limited swinging movement in a rearward and upward direction, and a horizontal restraining member extending forwardly from the upper end of said yieldable impact member, said horizontal restraining member being movable downwardly in response to rearward and upward swinging movement of said yieldable impact member, said yieldable impact member including spaced apart, downwardly depending legs defining a central helmet-receiving passage therebetween, and said horizontal restraining member extending forwardly from above the central passage formed between said leg portions.

3. A football blocking sled according to claim 2, further including a head striking plate extending across the passage rearwardly of the said leg portions.

4. A football blocking sled according to claim 3, said head striking plate being mounted for rearward and upward swinging movement independently of said yieldable impact member.

5. A football blocking sled comprising in combination a base support frame, a vertical impact member being mounted in upright spaced relation in front of said base support frame for limited swinging movement about an upper horizontal axis in a rearward and upward direction, said impact member having horizontally spaced, downwardly extending legs defining a central passage therebetween, means to yieldingly resist rearward and upward movement of said vertical impact member, and a head butting plate extending rearwardly of said vertical impact member across the upper end of the passage including means mounting said head butting plate for independent swinging movement in a rearward and upward direction with respect to said vertical impact member.

6. A football blocking sled according to claim 5, further including a horizontal restraining member projecting forwardly from above the passage and terminating in an upwardly curved terminal end portion, said restraining member being secured to said vertical impact member for downward swinging movement in response to rearward and upward swinging movement of said impact member.

7. A football blocking sled according to claim 6, further including means for mounting said impact member in front of said frame and said means being adjustable to vary the height of said impact member with respect to said frame, a spring member interconnecting the upper ends of said impact member and said frame to yieldingly resist rearward swinging movement of said impact member, and adjustable connecting means between said impact member and frame being operative to limit return movement of said impact member under the urging of said spring to its normal rest position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1O ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner,

ARNOLD W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

